New Homecoming parade route generates a lot of criticism

Route changed to minimize disruptions from rowdy parade onlookers

Ohio University last week announced a new route for
its annual Homecoming parade in 2012, and the reaction around town has ranged
from dubious to downright angry.

OU President Roderick McDavis announced
in a news release Thursday his approval of the new route that had been recommended
by a committee of university and Athens officials studying the issue.

In previous years, the parade began at the
intersection of Morris Avenue and East State Street, went up Carpenter Street
and traveled the length of Court Street all the way to the OU campus. It would
break up down near the Convocation Center.

Under the new route planned for the Oct. 13
Homecoming celebration, participants will first line up at Factory Street (near
the old Athens train depot). The parade will then turn right onto West Union
Street, right onto South Court Street, left onto Park Place, right onto
University Terrace and end up at the Ping Center parking lot for dispersal.

Officials began discussing a new route after Athens
City Council and others expressed
concern about the safety of the old route, and the amount of rowdy behavior
from students watching the parade from in front of Court Street bars.

Now alumni, students and residents are expressing a
variety of concerns about the new route. Many responded to a solicitation for
opinions on Facebook.

"Boo," said Athens County resident Debbie Allen. "(The)
sounds of the Marching 110 reverberating up the 'canyon' of N. Court gave a
body goose bumps. No more."

"I predict a huge boom in Homecoming business for BW3
and Jackie O's," said Athens County resident Corinne Colbert.

A chief concern among those advocating a new route
was the rowdiness of the bar crowd near the intersection of North Court and
West State streets.

Homecoming is the number-one money-making weekend for
most bars in Athens, better even than Halloween. Many bars along Court Street
open early on Homecoming weekend, between 7 and 9 a.m., to cater to alumni
having "kegs and eggs" as they wait for the Homecoming parade.

Bar-owners suggested
alternatives such as putting up barricades and methods to disperse crowds
more evenly throughout Court Street, but McDavis and the advisory committee
opted instead to divert the parade route away from the area entirely.

Some commentators on The Athens NEWS' website said that the bars are getting what was
coming to them.

"They are a cancer on our institution, and I hope
this serves as a strong reminder to them that they have a responsibility to the
town and the institution that makes their businesses possible," the
unidentified individual wrote.

On their end, bar owners have complained that the
university has attempted to tell them what to do instead of trying to work
together. Several years ago, McDavis met with uptown bar owners to request that
they not open so early on Homecoming. He later characterized that as one of the
worst meetings he's experienced as OU president. The bar owners declined his
request.

"McDavis wants to tell us not to open until after the
parade. Can't he tell the fraternities and sororities not to drink?" Tony
Sylvester, owner of Tony's Tavern, asked previously. "He has more
authority over them than he has control over private businesses."

Other commentators pointed out that the new route
still passes a number of bars, including W.G. Grinders, the Smiling Skull,
Cat's Den, BW3, Jackie O's and the Union.

But the loss of the vast majority of Court Street
seems to be the main sticking point for some critics. OU student Karah Finan
said that she works in the university library, where she has seen Homecoming
photos dating back to the 1950s and before. Those pictures show the parade
coming down Court Street, she said.

Finan questioned why McDavis didn't consult with
students more before making the decision. "Gone is the chance to compare parade
photos from decades and decades before to ones in the future Homecoming
parades. This really is a shame, throwing away over 60 years of tradition for
the (OU) and Athens community."

And yet others complained about the length of the new
route.

"If they shorten the route any more, it won't be a
parade; it'll be a cake walk," said Marching 110 alumnus Paul Shellhammer. "Why
not just have the parade start at Chubb (Hall) and end at Alden (Library)? Any
further than that and you might risk 'passing a bar.' OH NO!"

Others called the new route outright "stupid," saying
that it limits performance space for the Marching 110; goes uphill (on West
Union) for a large part of the route and complicates the line-up process at the
beginning of the parade.

"Horrible plan," said one commentator. "The 110
alumni band is expecting to have the largest turnout in history as the weekend
is honoring late Director Ronald Socciarelli. They can't fit on any open
stretch of the parade route to perform…"

But there was at least one person who applauded the
new route, commending the committee working to make the route more safe.

"As someone who marched down Court Street last year,
I was horrified at drunk students/alumni who risked the safety of myself and
others all in the name of 'fun.' I didn't appreciate that at all," the
commentator wrote. "Kudos to McDavis and the OHIO administration, staff, faculty
and students who risked negative feedback to make the parade for this year
exciting, fun and safe."

Interesting how the paper cannot provide names of people who made specific "quotes" or comments appluading the change in support of the City's position? I wonder if those are "real" quotes or simply editorial comment by the reporter??

As an Alumnus who marched in the 110 Alumni Band last year, I have to say I did not experience any issues with spectators in the parade route. I suspect this is more about politics (battle between the University and the private businesses along Court St.) than it is about "safety." We have been marching down Court Street for decades.

this is all politics... I love Athens and alwyas will, but any/every big city should know how to safety patrol for a parade. Idiots happen in 20,000 Athens and 2,000,000 Athens... Our city will loose near a $100,000 b/c of McDavis decision.

I feel obliged to respond to your accusations, Greg, as making up quotes is one of the worst offenses in journalism. My professional integrity thus attacked, I'll explain: The attributed quotes came from The Athens NEWS Facebook page where people who commented were told they would be quoted by name in the paper. The unattributed quotes came from 4 pages of comments on the original McDavis announcement story on The Athens NEWS website, where people were not told they would be quoted by name in the paper:

I'm having a hard time imagining parade floats and marching bands going down Park Place (the road south of Alden Library). That road consists of two narrow lanes on either side of a boulevard... I'm pretty sure the Marching 110 is gonna have difficulties squeezing into those lanes, or may even end up having to divide in half to go down that stretch of the route.

It's also interesting to note that McDavis himself lives in a big mansion on Park Place. Perhaps he wanted to keep the homecoming parade for himself?